ORLANDO, FL – 25 Mar, 2017 – As a way to honor those who lost their lives in the Pulse tragedy, The Closing Agent, an Orlando-based full-service title and escrow agency, will collaborate with the Central Florida Foundation to launch The 49 Fund, a scholarship fund designed to assist Central Florida LGBT students with tuition expenses.

The first-of-its-kind fund will provide annually, up to ten (10) scholarships in the amount of $4,900 each paid toward tuition for Central Florida LGBT students attending qualifying institutions.

To qualify for The 49 Fund scholarship, applicants must self-identify as ‘out’ members of the LGBT community, enroll full-time at a two- or four-year institution of higher learning, and carry a minimum 3.0 GPA. Survivors of the Pulse shooting tragedy and immediate family members of those who lost their lives will receive special consideration.

The 49 Fund will work closely with LGBT organizations to identify potential applicants. Application requirements include an essay that demonstrates a commitment to the LGBT community along with transcripts, ACT/SAT scores, a college or university acceptance letter, a recommendation letter from the applicant’s current school, and evidence of financial need.

According to Barry Miller, President of The Closing Agent, The 49 Fund will honor victims of the Pulse nightclub tragedy by enhancing educational opportunities for LGBT community members who are committed to making Central Florida a better place for all.

“As the one-year anniversary of this horrible tragedy approaches, we thought it was the appropriate time to memorialize the lives lost by providing assistance through scholarships to deserving LGBT students who are committed to helping others right here in Central Florida,” said Miller.

Serving Central Florida since 1993, Orlando-based The Closing Agent (TCA) is a full-service title and escrow agency that handles every step from contract to closing for both residential and commercial real estate transactions. With in-house professionals in real estate and corporate law, TCA clients benefit not only from the firm’s ability to proactively identify issues that may arise during their transaction but also from its ability to resolve them in an expeditious and cost-effective manner. This expertise, coupled with TCA’s ability to effectively integrate its services with those of its clients produces a seamless experience for buyers, sellers and their representatives.